Tim Bray
Bit of a news story here I haven't seen reported. Did an overnighter to Seattle, stayed in the University District. Looked for a place to fast-charge the car for the trip home home. Holy crap, there are almost none. Apparently there's (a) a lot of breakage and (b) systematic theft of the cables - they carry 100kW so a lot of copper. Found one eventually, but the first time I can remember being worried about charging. The Plugshare map shows lots of breakage but is still optimistic.
Jun 21, 2024 at 4:03pmWeb
Show threadDave PeckJun 21, 2024
@timbray I live a handful of blocks north of that charge point on 45th (the one due east of your apparent location in the U District) and, while I never have cause to use them, the chargers there always look like they're in good shape. But, yes, the situation city-wide is pretty anemic at the moment. I gather we can expect better next time we road trip up to Vancouver?
Show threadSteve RigginsJun 21, 2024
@davepeck @timbray this is happening in Los Angeles also, where people are stealing bridge lighting and fire hydrants as well.
Show threadTim BrayJun 21, 2024
@davepeck I don't know the state of play in Vancouver, I charge on our L2 in the carport.
Show threadblturnerJun 21, 2024
@davepeck @timbray I usually charge at the EA station in Northgate and I've never had a problem, but I see all three 350kW chargers are shown as down right now. Hopefully that's routine maintenance and not vandalism!
Show threaddotyJun 21, 2024
@timbray @davepeck (Alas, that's the charger in the University Village Parking Lot and last weekend there was exactly one working charging wire. 😅)
Show threadDave PeckJun 21, 2024
@doty oh jeez -- so much for how they *look*, i suppose!
Show threadellen teapot 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 21, 2024
@davepeck @timbray I don’t fast charge in Metro Vancouver super often, but I’ve only ever run into chargers being full or not yet in service; not vandalized
Show threadSteve LoughranJun 21, 2024
@timbray cable theft is a big issue in Sheffield and nearby parts of the UK -especially in the places open all night for charging. The charger hardware needs to be designed for this (motion sensing cameras, detection and reporting of cut cables…)
Show threadJohn GordonJun 21, 2024

@timbray

In the MSP region most of our pedestrian-oriented river trail lights are out of order due to copper theft. The problem will likely get worse before it gets better.

Show threadMartin GordonJun 21, 2024
@timbray I haven’t fast charged in a few weeks but do see that it’s a problem. I saw someone charging at EA U Village on Wednesday even though PlugShare reports they’re all out (all but one are out according to the EA app). My two go-tos are Mercer St and Madison Pike and haven’t had any issues at either. They’re in Bank of America parking lots which maybe offers some deterrence?
Show threadellen teapot 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 21, 2024
@gordonmb @timbray The EA location in Georgetown, Seattle was in a Bank of America parking lot but has been closed for months :/
Show threadmempkoJun 21, 2024
@timbray USA is probably going to fall behind China and Europe in charging infrastructure (maybe already has?)
Show threadellen teapot 🏳️‍⚧️Jun 21, 2024
@timbray Spotted in Medford, Oregon on my trip down to the SF Bay Area from Vancouver BC…
Show threadKyle HughesJun 21, 2024
@asmallteapot @timbray My “NO HIGH VALUE METALS IN THE EVSE” shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my shirt.
Show threadSteve RigginsJun 21, 2024
@asmallteapot @timbray people used to extract teeth for gold. We haven’t changed much over the centuries.